Hong Kong reports 40th Legionnaires’ disease case of 2015

The Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is investigating a sporadic case of Legionnaires’ disease (LD) affecting a man aged 87.

Hong Kong/CIA

The patient, with underlying illnesses, lives in Zhuhai, Guangdong. He has presented with shortness of breath, fever and cough with sputum since August 25. He came to Hong Kong for medical consultation on August 27 and was admitted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital on the same day. The clinical diagnosis is pneumonia and he is now in serious condition.

Initial inquiries revealed that, during the incubation period, the patient had traveled to Hong Kong from August 19 to 21 and then stayed in the Mainland before onset. His home contact has remained asymptomatic.

“We are conducting epidemiological investigations into the possible source of infection. We have provided health advice on LD to his family,” a spokesman for the CHP said.

“As Legionella bacteria can be widely found in the environment, investigations are ongoing,” the spokesman remarked.

This is the 40th LD case reported to the CHP this year. In 2014 and 2013, 41 and 28 cases were recorded respectively.